Values of Newlife Church

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1) God as our Father

  • It is all about relationship with God.
  • The foundation of this relationship is resting in his grace as opposed to earning his favour by performance (chosen & loved).
  • He has forgiven our sins and justified us through the death of Jesus.
  • He has adopted us as sons and daughters.
  • He gives good gifts.
  • He loves to bless and to heal.
  • He enjoys us and loves us in a way no earthly father could ever do.
  • He brings us tender and loving correction to bring us into more fruitfulness.

2) Jesus, our Bridegroom

  • Every human being has a deep need for an intimate relationship that can only be satisfied by Christ.
  • This love is not merely known intellectually but also experienced.
  • Christ is looking for a bride that is passionate for him.
  • There’s more! We are hungry and thirsty, desiring satisfaction only in him.

3) The Holy Spirit, God’s precious gift

  • We experience God primarily through the channel of the Holy Spirit.
  • Hearing God’s voice is our joy and desire.
  • We develop the Spirit-gifting of every member, raising leaders.
  • We take care not to grieve or quench the Spirit.
  • He gives us victory over the flesh and the enemy, and opens our hearts and minds to spiritual truths.

4) The Presence of God as we meet together

  • Worship invites and intensifies his presence.
  • We honour his presence by putting value on it, and lingering in it.
  • Our worship mindset: our singing and prayers are addressed to God and songs become prayers.
  • God’s presence brings miracles and the impartation of anointing and gifts.
  • As we worship, the presence of the Spirit is intensified in every aspect of his work.

5) Growth & maturing (“Bad stuff out, good stuff in”)

  • Growth involves:
    • brokenness, humility & repentance
    • vulnerability & transparency (especially in the leaders)
    • forgiveness and showing grace to others so that we may enjoy God’s grace for us
    • healing from the hurts of life
    • dealing with the issues that all of us have

6) The character and nature of the Kingdom of God

  • Everything is free.
  • It's an “upside down Kingdom”: we love the unlovely, give to those who can’t return it, and as we die to self we receive life.
  • We evangelise—spreading the Kingdom, not out of duty but out of a heart to share the grace that we have freely received.
  • We go to all nations, making disciples.
  • We own nothing, but are stewards of all the finances and possessions God has entrusted us with.
  • God’s generosity is the basis for ours, so we freely give and freely receive.
  • Healing and deliverance are a central part of the Kingdom.

7) Relationship

  • Love for one another is the unique mark of Christ’s disciples.
  • What we do has value only when motivated by love.
  • Love is the context for using the gifts of the Spirit.
  • We value:
    • Hospitality, care, meeting needs
    • Interdependence
    • Accountability
  • We have a commitment to one another and to our church family.

8) The Scriptures

  • All that we believe and practice is based on the Scriptures.
  • The Spirit wrote and speaks through the Scriptures.
  • They are the authoritative standard for judging what is truly of the Spirit.
  • It is important to honour the Spirit by taking care to interpret them accurately.
  • Spirit empowered teaching connects simultaneously with the head and the heart and produces changed lives.

9) Hunger and anticipation for More

  • We have not arrived—there is much more to have of God.
  • Our “systems” are imperfect, and so we are open to new ideas.
  • Our theology is imperfect—we strive to understand our God better.
  • The full revelation of God’s kingdom is still to come, so we eagerly anticpate the future and press into all that God wants us to have.